(Press Release; WBSC-AMÉRICAS BASEBALL).- The U23 World Cup Qualifier started with victories for all teams that had home club status on the opening day, starting with the debut in the Roberto Clemente stadium in Masaya by Nicaragua who opened with victory.
The hosts of the tournament walked of Puerto Rico, which had come from behind to tie the score in the fourth inning but was finally defeated by a score of 3 to 2.
Cristhian Sandoval was the hero when he hit a solo home run in the seventh to walk of the Puerto Ricans, it was his only hit in four at-bats, but enough to give his team the victory.
Also at the Roberto Clemente stadium in Masaya, Cuba knocked out Costa Rica in five innings by a score of 13 to 0, to start its path in the tournament with a resounding victory.
Adrián Pérez stood out by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, while Carlos Monier also went 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Andrys Pérez went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Also in Masaya Colombia came from behind and with runs in the sixth and seventh innings they were able to take the first victory of the tournament, walking of Panama by a score of 2 to 1.
Juan Pizarra drove in one despite not getting a hit, while the other RBI came from Andreuw Alcedo who hit 1 for 3.
Meanwhile in Managua at the Nacional Soberanía stadium, the Dominican Republic resisted the threat of a comeback from Argentina, to finally win the game by score 6 to 5.
Miguel Mora got the win by working 1.1 innings of relief with a walk and two strikeouts, while Francisco Fajardo contributed by going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, accompanied by Viandel Peña De La Cruz who went 1 for 1 with two driven in and another scored.
In the other duel held in Managua, Venezuela shut out Cuaracao 7 to 0, a duel that was decided after the fourth inning, to start with victory in the U23 World Cup Qualifier tournament.
Three Venezuelan pitchers combined for the shutout, Gregori Arrieche pitched four scoreless innings of one hit, three walks and three strikeouts, Wilker Palma pitched two innings of one hit, two strikeouts and one walk, while Cristian Fermin pitched one shutout inning with a strikeout.
Jesús Bugarín excelled offensively, going 2-for-4 with a a run scored and four RBIs to lead Venezuela to victory.
(Media Department; Guillermo Yáber Llanos)
